Higher education in India is imparted in recognized universities, specialized institutions and colleges affiliated to recognized universities. The disciplines cover a wide range of subjects from literature to computer engineering to space research. Most of the universities and centres of higher learning and research are autonomous in function. A good number of universities have a federal structure composed of affiliated colleges and university departments. The affiliated colleges teach, in general, undergraduate courses, whereas the university departments conduct postgraduate teaching and advanced research. The university decides the criteria of admission into colleges and coordinates the first-degree examination in the undergraduate programs and award of degree.